Electric can opener with removable cutter mounting plate and pivotally attached hand lever

ABSTRACT

An electrically powered can opener with power-pierce and automatic shutoff has a cutter mounting plate (carrying the can cutter member thereon) which is selectively removable from its operative position on the upright can opener frame. A hand lever is pivotally connected to the cutter mounting plate with an interposed plate and spring combination located therebetween to assist the pivotally attached lever in moving the cutter mounting plate so that the cutter member and can feed wheel are either appropriately separated or brought into an operative position for piercing and severing the end from the can. The can opener frame has a movable can guide extending therefrom which cooperates with a fixed can guide extending from the cutter mounting plate to assist in initiating the power-pierce and automatic shutoff. A portion of the cutter mounting plate assists in the movement of the movable can guide. The hand lever has a surface for contacting a cutter mounting plate mating surface to pivot the cutter mounting plate (and the associated cutter element located thereon) in a direction to permit either insertion of a can to be opened into the can opener or to permit the opened can to be released therefrom. A second embodiment of the invention modifies the construction of the cutter mounting plate so that the upward swinging of the pivotally mounted hand lever is not resisted by the spring force of the movable can guide as the lever is swung upwardly. This latter feature eliminates the tendency to tilt or to rotate the entire can opener when the hand lever is so swung. Both embodiments of the invention include a spring biased push button operated latch which engages the pin member extending from the cutter mounting plate through the upright frame so that removal of same (and the cutter member carried thereon) is accomplished by manipulation of the push button latch.

United States Patent [191 McLean Apr. 3, 1973 [541 ELECTRIC CAN OPENER WITH REMOVABLE CUTTER MOUNTING PLATE AND PIVOTALLY ATTACHED HAND LEVER [75] Inventor: Robert E. McLean, Raytown, Mo.

Primary Examiner0thell M. Simpson Assistant Examiner-Gary L. Smith Att0rneyWilliam B. Kircher [57] ABSTRACT An electrically powered can opener with power-pierce and automatic shutoff has a cutter mounting plate (carrying the can cutter member thereon) which is selectively removable from its operative position on the upright can opener frame. A hand lever is pivotally connected to the cutter mounting plate with an interposed plate and spring combination located therebetween to assist the pivotally attached lever in moving the cutter mounting plate so that the cutter member and can feed wheel are either appropriately separated or brought into an operative position for piercing and severing the end from the can. The can opener frame has a movable can guide extending therefrom which cooperates with a fixed can guide extending from the cutter mounting plate to assist in initiating the power-pierce and automatic shutoff. A portion of the cutter mounting plate assists in the movement of the movable can guide. The hand lever has a surface for contacting a cutter mounting plate mating surface to pivot the cutter mounting plate (and the associated cutter element located thereon) in a direction to permit either insertion of a can to be opened into the can opener or to permit the opened can to be released therefrom.

A second embodiment of the invention modifies the construction of the cutter mounting plate so that the upward swinging of the pivotally mounted hand lever is not resisted by the spring force of the movable can guide as the lever is swung upwardly. This latter feature eliminates the tendency to tilt or to rotate the entire can opener when the hand lever is so swung.

Both embodiments of the invention include a spring biased push button operated latch which engages the pin member extending from the cutter mounting plate through the upright frame so that removal of same (and the cutter member carried thereon) is accomplished by manipulation of the push button latch.

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sum 1 OF 3 INVENTOR.

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PATENTEDAPR 3 I975 SHEET 3 BF 3 INVENTOR bar? if. #4160)? ATTORNEw ELECTRIC CAN OPENER WITH REMOVABLE CUTTER MOUNTING PLATE AND PIVOTALLY ATTACHED HAND LEVER BACKGROUND AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION My invention relates generally to an electrically powered can opener and more particularly to can openers of the type which include the power-pierce concept, automatic shutoff, and an easily removable cutter mounting plate which carries the cutting element thereon. The power-pierce structure and associated features have been disclosed in US. Pat. No. 3,078,568, (issued Feb. 26, 1963) and the removability of the cutting element by utilization of push button latches has been discussed in US. Pat. Nos. 3,496,635 (issued Feb. 24, 1970), and 3,520,056 (issued July 14, 1970), in my Patent application Ser. No. 47,937 which was filed on June 22, 1970, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,689,997, and owned by the same assignee as the subject invention. The now to be described can opener is an improvement over the disclosure in the 47,937 application.

The first embodiment of my invention includes the conventional can opener upright frame which is suitably apertured to receive a pin member therethrough that extends from the combination cutter mounting plate and pivotally attached hand lever. With the push button operated latch engaging the rearward end portion of the pin member, the cutter mounting plate is firmly but removably attached to the can opener frame. The hand lever is attached to the upper left-hand corner of the cutter mounting plate (when viewed from the front) by a spacer member and a cooperating detent spring. Since the cutter mounting plate is attached to the can opener frame by a pin member-latch combination described above, a second tapered end shoulder stud extends towards the frame from the pivotally attached hand lever through a rectangular opening in the frame to engage the powerpierce operating mechanism.

The detent spring and spacer member facilitate the hand lever swinging of the plate in an upward direction to permit a can to be inserted between the cutting element and the can feed wheel, however, a movable spring biased can guide extends from the frame and through a suitable aperture in the cutter mounting plate. This can guide is engageable by a portion of the cutter mounting plate at the lower end of the slotted aperture as the hand lever is pivoted in a direction to cause separation of the cutting element and can feed wheel. Further hand lever movement causes same to engage a portion of the cutter mounting plate and the movable can guide to be lifted upwardly against its spring tension to a position to properly receive the can. When the force on the lever is removed, the movable can guide spring firmly seats the movable can guide down on the rim or flange of the can end to be opened and further downward movement of the hand lever causes the tapered end stud to move in such a direction that a switch controlling the energization of electric motor powering the can feed wheel is closed prior to the piercing of the end of the can so that the powerpierce is effected.

The second embodiment of my invention features a change in the construction of the cutter mounting plate including the location of the pin member that interconnects the plate with the frame in conjunction with the fixed can guide that extends from the cutter mounting plate. In this embodiment, the cutter mounting plate will not engage or lift the movable can guide when the hand lever is swung to a can receiving position. Accordingly, any tendency on the part of the hand levercutter mounting plate and can guide movement to tilt or rotate the entire can opener as the lever is swung is eliminated. By locating the axis of the fixed can guide below the pin member, the downward movement of the hand lever once the can is inserted within the can opener will cause the can to fulcrum on the can feed wheel upwardly against the fixed can guide so that for further downward lever movement moves the movable can guide, against the force of its spring, to its operative position.

An object of my invention is to provide a uniquely constructed power operated can opener having a reliable and efficient operation coupled with the ability to be economically manufactured.

Another object of my invention is to provide a can opener of the character described which includes the important features of power-pierce, automatic shutoff, and an easily removable cutter mounting plate carrying the cutting element thereon.

Another object of the invention is to provide a can opener of the character stated which utilizes the unique construction of a cutter mounting plate and a pivotally attached hand lever to facilitate the turning on of the can opener motor for various purposes such as the operation of a knife sharpener without requiring additional electric switches or manipulative controls. It is a feature of this object that the hand lever, while pivotally attached to the cutter mounting plate, will fulcrum about an outwardly extending boss from the can opener frame to effect the motor energization for knife sharpening purposes.

One of the primary objects of the invention is to provide a can opener that is extremely simple and rugged and which is comprised of a minimum of parts, resulting in not only a reduced cost in manufacture but also assuring greater reliability of performance.

A further object of the invention is to provide a powered can opener of the character described which pivotally attaches the hand lever to the cutter mounting plate and which utilizes a portion of the cutter mounting plate to properly orient a movable can guide for opener operation.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an integrally constructed power operated can opener having a fixed and a movable can guide associated with a removable cutter mounting plate and which orients the two can guides with respect to the cutting element and can feed wheel so that a can fulcruming on the can feed wheel will properly orient the movable can guide during the can piercing and shearing operation.

Other and further objects of the invention, together with the features of novelty appurtenant thereto, will appear in the course of the following description.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of the specification and are to be read in conjunction therewith and in which like reference numerals are employed to indicate like parts in the various views:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of the upper portion of the first embodiment of the can opener;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the upper portion of the frame of the can opener shown in FIG. 1 with the cutter mounting plate and hand lever removed therefrom;

FIG. 3 is a rear elevational view of the cutter mounting plate with a portion of the outer end portion of the hand lever broken away and with same shown in broken lines in various positions;

FIG. 4 is a rear elevational view of the can opener with the box-like casing removed therefrom to expose the interior mechanisms and with the hand lever and cutter mounting plate shown in broken lines along with a portion of the power-pierce and automatic shutoff mechanism to indicate the motor energizing positions;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to the upper portion of FIG. 4, however, with certain gears removed to better disclose the operation of the interior mechanism and with the hand lever and an associated tapered end stud shown in broken lines in the can receiving (or removing) position;

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view taken from the lefthand side of FIG. 1 and with certain portions broken away for clarity;

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view taken from the righthand side of FIG. 1 and showing substantially the same portion of FIG. 1 that is shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a front elevational view of the upper portion of the can opener with the broken lines indicating the positions to which the cutter mounting plate and movable can guide are moved by the former contacting and lifting the latter.

FIG. 9 is a front elevational view of approximately the left-hand two-thirds of the cutter mounting plate of the second embodiment thereof; and

Flg. 10 is a side elevational view from the right-hand side of the cutter mounting plate shown in FIG. 9.

Turning now more particularly to the drawings, reference numeral 1 generally designates the upright frame of the can opener. This frame is designed to be utilized with a box-like casing (not shown) to enclose the operating mechanisms supported on the rear surface thereof. A can feed wheel 2 is threaded onto the can feed wheel drive shaft 3 and is journalled ina fixed boss on the forward portion of frame 1 for rotation through suitable reduction gearing (see FIG. 4) by a conventional shaded pole motor M.

As shown in FIG. 2, the upper right-hand portion of frame 1 is provided with bosses 4 which extend slightly forwardly of the generally vertical surface of the frame to provide a seat for the later described cutter mounting plate. Of course, a conventional can guard 6 will be bolted or otherwise affixed onto the forward surface of frame 1 below the can feed wheel in order to maintain the side wall of an engaged can at the desired angle relative to the forward surface of can feed wheel 2. A properly sized aperture or bearing opening 7 is provided in frame 1 in close proximity to bosses 4 to receive and rotatively support a pin member which extends from the now to be described cutter mounting plate.

As suggested above, the cutter mounting plate in my first embodiment, hereinafter identified by the numeral 5, has a pin member 8 extending through suitable hole (not shown) in the cutter mounting plate with the forward portion 8 acting as a fixed can guide while the rearward portion 8a has a tapered rear end and an annular groove spaced a preselected distance from the rear surface of the cutter mounting plate. The annular groove provides a means for engaging a portion of latch 10 therein in order to maintain the cutter mounting plate seated firmly against bosses 4 when assembled on the can opener frame 1 in a manner similar to that described in my Patent application Ser. No. 47,937, supra. Finally, an annular flange 11 (shown in FIG. 7) contacts the rear of the plate 5 around pin member 8a and facilitates the attachment of the can guide-pin member structure to the cutter mounting plate in the usual manner by the tightening of nut 15 on the forward plate surface.

The cutter wheel 16 is journalled on the usual stud or arbor that is anchored in a suitable angled forwardly extending boss 16a from the cutter mounting plate. The cutter wheel 16 will preferably have a limited wobble movement and may be of substantially the same design as that shown in US. Pat. No. 3,314,144, which issued Apr. 18, 1967. Finally, the cutter mounting plate has two other essential elements which will be discussed in more detail with respect to the first embodiment and which generally described, are the lug 23 (FIG. 6) which extends rearwardly toward the can opener frame from the left-hand edge of the cutter mounting plate and an elliptical opening 40 which is located to the left and partially below the left-hand edge of the cutter wheel 16.

The can piercing operating hand lever is generally designated by the numeral 17 and is permanently pivoted to cutter mounting plate 5 by the shoulder rivet 18. (As will be noted later, the head of rivet 18 adjacent frame 1 has a sufficient diameter to preclude same from entering a later described opening 32.) A spacer plate 19 is attached to the left-hand rear surface edge portion of cutter mounting plate 5 (as viewed from the front) and is interposed between hand lever 17 and the cutter mounting plate. It is contemplated that the tenon portion of the shoulder rivet 18 will extend through both the spacer plate and the hand lever in order to fixedly locate the spacer plate and to pivotally attach hand lever 17.

As shown in FIG. 3, the horizontal surface 21 and the vertical surface 22 of spacer plate 19 are in close proximity to the rearwardly extending lug 23 of cutter mounting plate 5 to prevent rotation of the spacer plate 19 relative to the cutter mounting plate. Whenever the permanently assembled hand lever and cutter mounting plate are removed from the remainder of the can opener, the underedge 24 of the hand lever 17 may engage the upper surface of the rearward portion of lug 23 of cutter mounting plate 5 to limit the swinging thereof in one direction. At the same time, 'the extended surface 25 of hand lever 17 can engage the lower edge portion of lug 23 of cutter mounting plate 5 to limit the swinging thereof in the opposite direction. It should be noted, however, that these limit positions are slightly beyond the corresponding positions that hand lever 17 can ever attain while the combination can piercing hand lever and cutter mounting plate is assembled on the can opener frame.

As suggested above, arched detent spring 26 is positioned between can piercing lever 17 and the cutter mounting plate 5 and is so attached that it will be rotated with hand lever 17. This attachment is facilitated by the rearwardly turned spring ears 27, one positioned in the rectangular opening 28 in hand lever 17 while the other is positioned within notch 29 thereof. A substantially hemispherical projection 30 located in the central portion of the spring is urged into yieldable contact with the rearward surface of the cutter mounting plate within an arcuate path determined by the swinging limits of the hand lever 17. Furthermore, a recess or dimple (31, not shown) is located in the arcuate path of the projection 30 in the rear surface of cutter mounting plate. When the projection 30 comes in registration with dimple recess 31, it will seat therein when hand lever 17 is swung upwardly from its normally parallel position (with respect to cutter mounting plate 5) approximately to 25. When assembled on the remainder of the can opener, the friction and/or resistance resulting from the use of detent spring 26 during the operation of the can opener is negligible. However, the user can readily sense when projection 30 seats in recess 31 as the lever is swung from either possible extreme position to the other when the unit is removed from the remainder of the can opener. Accordingly, detent spring 26 provides for the yieldable rotative positioning of the hand lever 17 relative to the cutter mounting plate to facilitate reinstallation of this assembly on the remainder of the can opener (after it has been removed for cleaning, etc.) Finally, the construction of the plate-lever combination includes a tapered end shoulder stud 33 that is hotheaded in hand lever 17 and extends rearwardly thereof.

Turning now once again to frame 1, a rectangular opening 32 lies in a substantially horizontal plane upwardly and to the left of the bearing opening or aperture 7. The length of opening 32 will be such that the tapered end stud 33 will never engage the vertical end portions of same as this stud extends therethrough during normal can opener operation. Further, the height of opening 32 is greater than the diameter of the tapered end stud 33 in order to permit the cutter mounting plate 5 to be rotated clockwise (when viewed from the front) from its normal horizontal position approximately 4.

A fulcrum boss 35 is located on the forward upper surface of frame 1 and may be either integral or a separate part secured thereto. When this lever and plate are in their normal rest positions, the lever under edge 24 will seat on fulcrum boss 35 for reasons which will be more fully described.

A movable can guide 36 extends through the elliptical hole 37 in frame 1 and is anchored in one end portion of movable can guide lever 38, said lever being pivoted on the rear surface of frame 1 by the shoulder rivet 39 (FIGS. 4 and 5). A similarly shaped substan tially larger opening 40 in cutter mounting plate 5 permits movable can guide 36 to extend therethrough and substantially forwardly of the face of can feed wheel 2 for cooperation with the fixed can guide 8. The upper and lower end portions of the frame elliptical opening 37 positively limit the vertical movement of movable can guide 36. Tension spring 38a has one end hooked in a hole 42 of the rearwardly turned ear 43 of movable can guide lever 38 while the other end is hooked on a suitable rearwardly extending boss 44. The force of spring 38a urges movable can guide 36 toward the lower end of the frame elliptical opening 37 at all times.

As further shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a shoulder rivet 45 pivots switch actuating lever 46 to the rear side of frame 1. In its normal rest position, the under edge of lever 46 will be substantially horizontal with the free end of same being urged downwardly to its seat on boss 47 by tension spring 46a. One end of spring 46a will be hooked in hole 48 of lever 46 while the other end is hooked on a suitable boss 49 of frame 1. The upper end of a switch control rod 50 is pivoted in the hole 51 of switch actuating lever 46 while the other end of the rod is freely guided through the hole in bracket 52 that is secured to frame 1 in any convenient manner. The lower end of switch control rod 50 is in engagement with the upper end of the plunger P of a suitable switch S that is likewise secured to frame 1. Switch S is a normally closed type with plunger P being spring biased upwardly in order that the contact points of the switch will be closed at all times unless an external force is applied to depress plunger P. The length of the switch control rod 50 is such that whenever the free end of the switch actuating lever 46 seats downwardly on the boss 47, the contact points of the switch will be separated, and motor M, which is in series with switch S, is deenergized. However, a predetermined amount of upward movement of the free end of switch actuating lever 46 will permit the contact points of the switch to close and the motor will then be energized.

The tapered end stud or pin 33 not only extends through opening 32 of frame 1 but also through the substantially overlying opening 53 in the switch actuating lever 46. When the free end of switch actuating lever 46 seats on boss 47 of frame 1 and the can opener is completely assembled with all the parts in the normal rest positions, there will be a few thousandths of an inch clearance between the circumference of the tapered end stud or pin 33 and the lower horizontal surface of the opening 32 in the frame 1. This facilitates removal and reinstallation of the combined hand lever and cutter mounting plate (which are permanently assembled together).

The mounting of latch 10 to the rear of frame 1 is assisted by the presence of suitable bosses S4 and 55. A shoulder screw 55a extends through the opening 56 of latch 10 and not only fastens the lower end of latch 10 to boss 55 but also limits the up and down movement of the latch as required. Boss 54 has a rearwardly extending portion 57 which limits the lateral movement of the upper end of the latch in the resulting direction due to the urging of the force and orientation of latch spring 100, whenever the latch 10 is not engaged in the annular groove in pin member 8a. One end of the latch spring (10a) is hooked in the notch 58 of latch 10 while the other end thereof is hooked on boss 59 of frame 1. As suggested above, the operation of latch 10 has been described in detail in Pat. Nos. 3,496,635 and 3,520,056. Finally, the latch 10 is provided with a suitable knob 60 that is accessible from the exterior of the can opener frame and easing combination.

Turning now more particularly to the second embodiment of my invention which is depicted primarily in FIGS. 9 and 10, the like reference numerals indicate similar components. The significant changes reside in the substantially different construction of the cutter mounting plate a and in relocation of the aperture or bearing opening (in frames 1) 1) that receives the pin member which releasably interconnects the cutter mounting plate to the can opener frame 1. In this embodiment, a tapered end stud 61-is hotheaded into the cutter mounting plate 5a and has the annular groove 61a located in the rear portion thereof for interconnection with a latch in a manner similar to that described above. It should be noted that the stud 61 pivots the cutter mounting plate 5a to the frame 1 at a point substantially above the hole 7 shown in FIG. 2 and described with respect to the first embodiment. The cutter mounting plate 50 again rotates clockwise (when viewed from the front) from its normal horizontal position. The movable can guide 36 is constructed in the same fashion and will be anchored in the can guide lever 38 to extend through the elliptical opening 37 in frame 1. Furthermore, the tension spring 38a urges the movable can guide downwardly at all times towards its seat in the lower end of opening 37 of frame 1.

As shown in FIG. 9, the cutter mounting plate 5a is contoured at 62 so that the cutter mounting plate never engages the movable can guide 36 and there is no need for the plate slot 40. Finally, fixed can guide 63 is hotheaded in cutter mounting plate 5a so that it is located in substantially the same position as can guide 8 in the first embodiment and will be below and with its axis slightly to the left of the axis of the tapered end stud 61.

OPERATION OF THE FIRST EMBODIMENT A similar type interconnection of the cutter mounting plate and its associated pin member 8a with the latch 10 has been fully described in my above-mentioned patent application and related patents, supra.

The various limit positions of the hand lever and cutter mounting plate may be seen .by observation of FIGS. 1 and 2. For instance, clockwise swinging of cutter mounting plate 5 is limited by the engagement of the lower end of arcuate slot 40 with movable can guide 36 after such engagement has moved the movable can guide to its uppermost position. Counterclockwise swinging of the cutter mounting plate 5 is limited to approximately a horizontal position by the engagement of the tapered end stud 33 (which extends rearwardly from can piercing hand lever 17) with the lower surface of the horizontal rectangular opening 32 in frame 1. In a similar manner, the clockwise swinging of hand lever 17 is limited by the cutter mounting plate 5 (contacting the limited movable can guide position) and the engagement of stud 33 with the lower surface of opening 32 in frame 1. counterclockwise swinging of hand lever 17 is limited 'by the engagement of the under edge of surface 24 of the hand lever with the fulcrum boss 35 and in the engagement of stud 33 (in hand lever 17) with the upper surface of the opening 32 of FIG. 2. However, whenever in the rest position, hand lever 17 will be approximately in the horizontal position.

The movable can guide 36 moves in a substantially vertical plane. Although it is urged downwardly at all times by the force of the tension spring 38a, downward movement thereof is positively limited by its engagement with the lower end of the elliptical opening 37 in frame 1 through which it extends and upward movement thereof is positively limited by its engagement with the upper end of the same opening.

The head of shoulder rivet 18 (which pivotally interconnects the hand lever 17 to cutter mounting plate 5) lies adjacent the face of frame 1 and maintains the lefthand portion of cutter mounting plate 5 in the vertical plane prescribed by the forward surfaces of the bosses 4. Whenever a can is engaged in the can opener, fixed can guide 8 and movable can guide 36 cooperate to force the rim or flange of the can downwardly on the teeth of the can feed wheel 2 to provide the required penetration of the teeth into the under edge of the rim or flange of the can to assure adequate traction for feeding the can with respect to the cutting element 16. Of course, the can guard 6 maintains the side wall of the can at the desired angle with respect to the face of the can feed wheel 2.

The tension spring 460 which operates to urge the free end of switch actuating lever 46 downward at all times must have sufficient force to move the stud 33 from its uppermost possible position within the confines of the horizontal opening 32 of frame 1 to its lowermost possible position upon completion of the severing of the end of the engaged can, thereby changing the switch from the on condition to the off condition, stopping the motor. However, this spring force must never be sufficient to so move the stud 33 from its uppermost position in opening 32 of frame 1 to its lowermost position therein while the end of a engaged can is being sheared by cutting element 16. I have found that the preferred strength of this tension spring may be approximately midway between the minimum strength required to move the stud from its uppermost position at the proper time and the maximum strength that the spring could have without moving the stud 33 downwardly while the can end is being sheared. Even with common manufacturing tolerances; a spring of approximately such strength assures that the switch will always be on when intended and will always be off when intended.

The movable can guide 36 is entirely free of cutter mounting plate 5 at all times except when the can piercing lever is being swung (in the first embodiment). This is necessary to assure the efficient functioning of the automatic shutoff feature. In addition to the necessity of having an unencumbered movable can guide 36, it is also necessary to displace it upwardly to enable insertion and removal of the can. This is accomplished, in part, by the swinging of the hand lever 17. As viewed from the front of the can opener, it may be seen that as hand lever 17 is swung upwardly, the stud 33 anchored therein becomes a moving fulcrum for hand lever 17 with the stud moving to the right within opening 32 of frame 1. Accordingly, upward swinging of hand lever 17 will obviously rotate the cutter mounting plate clockwise (FIG. 1) on its pivot (the rearwardly extending pin member portion of fixed can guide 8).

The upward movement of can guide 36 is initiated as the lower end of arcuate opening 40 of cutter mounting plate 5 engages the lower surface of movable can guide 36. Further swinging of hand lever 17, and the associated clockwise rotation of cutter mounting plate 5, will move the movable can guide from its lowermost position in the elliptical opening 37 of frame 1 (if the can is not engaged in the can opener) upwardly until further movement is prevented by the can guide 36 contacting the upper end of opening 37. In this condition, the rim or flange of the can to be opened may be placed over the toothed periphery of can feed wheel 2 and under fixed can guide 8 and movable can guide 36, with the periphery of cutter wheel 16 being slightly above the top of the can. In order to facilitate the insertion of a can, it is preferable to manufacture the subject can opener with a tolerance or clearance factor between the can, the guides, and the cutter wheel.

As suggested in my Pat. No. 3,314,144, supra, the importance of a differential resistance in providing a reliable automatic shutoff is observed with respect to the instant construction. Inasmuch as cutter mounting plate 5 has pivotal movement only (pivoted by the fixed can guide 8 to frame 1), the friction between the two parts has been minimized, and an exceptionally good differential for the purposes of automatic shutoff has been achieved.

The can opener operation will usually have hand lever 17 in an approximate horizontal position when the can opener is not in use. This lever (17) is first swung upwardly to its extreme position, thereby moving cutter wheel 16 from its overlapping condition with can feed wheel 2 to a separated condition in which it will be upwardly and to the right as shown in broken lines in FIG. 8. Movable can guide 36 will be moved upwardly until the upper movement of same is prevented by its engagement with the upper end of the elliptical opening 37 in frame 1. The user than holds the can so that its side wall is projected against the face of the can feed wheel 2 and the rim or flange of the can is between the periphery of the can feed wheel 2 and the two now overlying can guides 8 and 36. The user then swings hand lever 17 outwardly to its extreme position. In this position, the under edge 24 of lever 17 will seat on the fulcrum boss 35 of frame 1 and stud 33 will seat upwardly against the upper surface of the opening 32 of frame 1. Accordingly, can piercing hand lever 17 will be in a position in which it is rotated approximately 4 counterclockwise from the horizontal and cutter mounting plate 5 will be in a position in which it is rotated approximately 4 clockwise from the horizontal. The user does not hold the can after he has swung the can piercing hand lever 17 to its downwardmost position.

During downward swinging of the can piercing hand lever, the cutter wheel 16 fulcrumed on the end of the can as the under edge of the rim or flange of the can firmly seated on the teeth of the can feed wheel 2. Under impetus of the spring 38a, the movable can guide 36 was permitted to seat downwardly on the rim or flange of the can to cooperate with fixed can guide 8 in urging the rim or flange on can feed wheel 2. As the cutter wheel firmly seated on the end of the can, counterclockwise rotation of cutter mounting plate 5 briefly ceased until continued downward swinging of can piercing hand lever 17 moved the stud 33 from its lowermost possible position in the horizontal opening 32 of frame 1 to its uppermost possible position therein. Obviously, such upward movement of stud 33, which also extends through the horizontal opening 53 in switch actuating lever 46, simultaneously moved the free end of lever 46 upwardly, against the force of tension spring 46a. This permits switch S to change from its off condition to its on condition, resulting in the energizing of the motor and the feeding of the can with respect to cutter wheel 16.

Additional downward swinging of can piercing hand lever 17 to its extreme downward position caused additional counterclockwise swinging of cutter mounting plate 5 on its pivot pin member 8a to its normal can shearing position. This additional swinging of plate 5 ultimately causes cutter wheel 16 to pierce the end of the can while the can is being fed with respect to the cutter wheel. When the end has been completely sheared from the can, the force of spring 46a, that normally urges the free end of switch actuating lever 46, again moves the free end downwardly until the free end of same seats on stop boss 47, thereby changing switch S from its on condition to its off condition and deenergizing the motor. Even though motor M has stopped, the can opener continues to hold the can until such time as the user elects to remove the opened can by holding same and swinging the hand lever upwardly to its extreme position. Although it is not necessary, the user will normally swing the hand lever downwardly to its approximate horizontal position as a rest or storage condition.

To remove cutter mounting plate 5 (and the permanently attached hand lever 17) for the purposes of cleaning cutter wheel 16, it is only necessary to depress the latch push button or knob and grasp the cutter mounting plate (preferably by the two vertical ends) and pull it forwardly. Of course, the user may swing hand lever 17 to any possible position relative to cutter mounting plate 5 when same has been removed from the remainder of the can opener and during a normal cleaning operation, it would very likely occur. However, to facilitate reinstallation of the permanently assembled lever and plate combination onto the remainder of the can opener, the can piercing lever 17 is swung relative to cutter mounting plate 5 until the rounded projection 30 of the detent spring 26 seats in recess 31 (not shown) of cutter mounting plate 5. Such rotative positioning of hand lever 17 with respect to place 5 is readily perceptive, however, such yieldable retention is not sufficient to interfere with the operation of the can opener. When so positioned, tapered end stud 8 is first partially inserted in the aperture or bearing opening of boss 54 of frame 1 and then followed by insertion of the tapered end stud 33 in the rectangular opening 32 of frame 1. The arcuate opening 40 of the cutter mounting plate 5 will freely telescope over the movable can guide 36 and plate 5 may be moved to its extreme rearward position or into engagement with the bosses 4 of frame 1. The user may then discontinue holding the knob or push button 60 in a depressed condition and the force of the latch spring 10a will cause the latch 10 to draw the cutter mounting plate 5 into firm engagement with the bosses on frame 1 at all times.

If the above-described can opener is also provided with a knife sharpener in the form of a grinding wheel which is rotated by the shaft of motor M, the switch S can be changed from off condition to the on condition by merely depressing the free end of hand lever 17. This is specifically accomplished by fulcruming the can piercing hand lever on the boss 35 intermediate the free end of the lever and the point at which it is pivoted to the cutter mounting plate (shoulder stud 18). Of course, it is possible to reorient the elements in a substantially mirror image so that the hand lever 17 extends to the right instead of to the left of the can opener shown in FIG. 1. The remainder of the can opener components would be similarly oriented to permit such operation so that the user could depress the can piercing lever 17 with the left hand while holding the knife in the right hand to sharpen same.

In the second embodiment of my invention, which was described mainly with respect to FIGS. 9 and 10, many of the operative features are similar. However, as can piercing lever 17 is swung upwardly to its extreme position, the cutter mounting plate does not engage the movable can guide 36. As hand lever 17 is so swung, cutter mounting plate a will be rotated clockwise on its pivot 61 and cutter wheel 16 will be substantially above the overlapping condition with the feed wheel. Accordingly, the fixed can guide 63 will be substantially upwardly and to the left of the position shown in FIG. 9. When in this condition, the rim or flange of the can may be positioned on the periphery of the can feed wheel 2 and the hand lever swung downwardly to its extreme position. As hand lever 17 is swung downwardly, fixed can guide 63 engages the top of the rim or flange of the can after the fixed can guide has been moved only partly toward the illustrated position in FIG. 9. Inasmuch as the rim or flange of the can is fulcrumed on can feed wheel 2, further downward movement of fixed can guide 63 moves the movable can guide 36, against the tension of its spring 38a, upwardly to its operating position which is about two-thirds of its total possible upward movement in the elliptical opening 37 of frame 1.

As in the first embodiment of the invention, cutter mounting plate 5a will be in a position in which it is rotated about 4 clockwise from the horizontal while the end is being sheared from the engaged can. Also, as in the first embodiment of the invention, cutter mounting plate 50 will be rotated to approximately the illustrated horizontal position after the end has been completely sheared from the can, then the motor will automatically shut off. However, the can opener will continue to hold the can until the hand lever is swung upwardly to release same.

It should be noted that in the second embodiment of the invention, the force of spring 38a for movable can guide 36 in no manner or degree interferes with the free upward swinging of the can piercing hand lever 17 when a can is not engaged in the can opener. Furthermore, due to the vertical positions of movable can guide 36 and fixed can guide 63 (at any time as can piercing hand lever 17 is swung downwardly from its extreme uppermost position to its extreme downward position as the end of the can is being pierced by cutter wheel 16) any tilting of the can will be such that its axis will be somewhat counterclockwise from vertical. Tilting of the can in this direction will aid in preventing the rim or flange of the can from running off the can feed wheel. Of course, if it is desired to have the can piercing lever extend to the right asmentioned above with respect to the first embodiment, same may be easily accomplished by appropriately reversing the components and changing the direction of rotation of the can feed wheel, etc. Finally, due to the pivoting of cutter mounting plate 5a to frame 1 at a point substantially higher than the first embodiment of the invention, it is not necessary to rotate the cutter mounting plate 5a clockwise as much as required for the first embodiment of the invention.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that this invention is one well adapted to attain all of the ends and objects hereinabove set forth together with other advantages which are obvious and which are inherent to the structure.

It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of the claims.

As many possible embodiments may be made of the invention without departing from the scope thereof, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a power operated can opener, the combination therewith of an upright frame, said frame having a bearing opening therein,

a can feed wheel supported on said frame,

a motor drivingly connected with said feed wheel,

a switch means connected with said motor and having a motor energized condition and a motor deenergized condition,

a cutter member,

a cutter mounting plate carrying said cutter member thereon,

a pin member extending from said cutter mounting plate 'and cooperatingly positionable within said bearing opening to pivotally mount said cutter mounting plate on said frame,

an operating lever,

means for pivotally connecting said operating lever with said cutter mounting plate,

a second pin member extending from said lever,

a second opening in said frame, said second pin member extending through said second opening,

' a motor control means mounted on said frame, said second pin member contacting said motor control means through said second opening, said second pin member operable to move said motor control means in a direction to effect the energization of said motor and the driving of said can feed wheel when said operating level is brought into can piercing position with the can having an end to be sheared therefrom by said cutter member, and

means for releasably connecting said first mentioned pin member to said frame, said connecting means including a latch member for the can shearing operation of said can opener and for permitting axial separation of said pin member and said hearing opening when said latch member is moved in a preselected direction.

2. The combination as in claim 1 including means connected with said motor control means to automatically cause said motor control means to deenergize said motor when the cutting of the end of the can has been completed.

3. The combination as in claim 2 including means for resiliently biasing said hand lever with respect to said cutter mounting plate, said biasing means operable to permit said operating lever to move said cutter mounting plate relative to said feed wheel on said first mentioned pin member.

4. The combination as in claim 3 wherein said yieldable means includes a spring member interposed between said operating lever in said cutter mounting plate, said spring member having two end portions, said end portions being interconnected with said hand lever with the central portion thereof in yieldable contact with said cutter mounting plate.

5. The combination as in claim 4 wherein said cutter mounting plate includes a recessed portion that is contactable with a mating portion of said spring member, said recessed portion and said mating portion of said spring member cooperating to yieldably locate said operating lever relative to said cutter mounting plate and facilitate reinstallation of said operating lever and cutter mounting plate on said frame by positioning said first and second pin members within said first and second mentioned frame openings.

6. The combination as in claim 1 wherein said frame has a movable can guide extending therefrom and means located on said cutter mounting plate for contacting said movable can guide and lifting same to a can receiving position with respect-to said can feed wheel.

7. The combination as in claim 6 including means for resiliently biasing said movable can guide in a direction that is substantially opposite to the direction that said can guide is lifted.

8. The combination as in claim 6 wherein said can guide lifting means includes a slot defined in said cutter mounting plate, said can guide extending through said cutter mounting plate slot when said cutter mounting plate is pivotally mounted on said frame, said slot permitting said cutter mounting plate to move a preselected distance without contacting said can guide, said cutter mounting plate operable to contact and move said movable can guide after said cutter mounting plate has been moved said preselected distance.

9. The combination as in claim 1 wherein said frame has a movable can guide extending therefrom, means for permitting said movable can guide to move in a substantially vertical direction with respect to said frame, a fixed can guide extending from said cutter mounting plate, the axis of said fixed can guide being parallel to but below the axis of said first pin member which pivotally interconnects said cutter mounting plate with said frame, said cutter mounting plate being movable to a can receiving position by movement of said operating lever and movable in an opposite direction to effect the piercing of the end of a can to be opened, said movable can guide being moved by a can fulcruming on said can feed wheel as said hand lever is moved from said can receiving position to said can piercing position.

10. The combination as in claim 1 wherein said frame includes a fulcrum boss extending therefrom, said fulcrum boss operable to be contacted by said hand lever, said hand lever being movable with respect to said fulcrum boss to pivotally move said cutter mounting plate in a direction to permit said second pin member to effect the energi zation of said motor through said motor control means without the presence of a can being engaged in said can opener. 

1. In a power operated can opener, the combination therewith of an upright frame, said frame having a bearing opening therein, a can feed wheel supported on said frame, a motor drivingly connected with said feed wheel, a switch means connected with said motor and having a motor energized condition and a motor deenergized condition, a cutter member, a cutter mounting plate carrying said cutter member thereon, a pin member extending from said cutter mounting plate and cooperatingly positionable within said bearing opening to pivotally mount said cutter mounting plate on said frame, an operating lever, means for pivotally connecting said operating lever with said cutter mounting plate, a second pin member extending from said lever, a second opening in said frame, said second pin member extending through said second opening, a motor control means mounted on said frame, said second pin member contacting said motor control means through said second opening, said second pin member operable to move said motor control means in a direction to effect the energization of said motor and the driving of said can feed wheel when said operating level is brought into can piercing position with the can having an end to be sheared therefrom by said cutter member, and means for releasably connecting said first mentioned pin member to said frame, said connecting means including a latch member for the can shearing operation of said can opener and for permitting axial separation of said pin member and said bearing opening when said latch member is moved in a preselected direction.
 2. The combination as in claim 1 including means connected with said motor control means to automatically cause said motor control means to deenergize said motor when the cutting of the end of the can has been completed.
 3. The combination as in claim 2 including means for resiliently biasing said hand lever with respect to said cutter mounting plate, said biasing means operable to permit said operating lever to move said cutter mounting plate relative to said feed wheel on said first mentioned pin member.
 4. The combination as in claim 3 wherein said yieldable means includes a spring member interposed between said operating lever in said cutter mounting plate, said spring member having two end portions, said end portions being interconnected with said hand lever with the central portion thereof in yieldable contact with said cutter mounting plate.
 5. The combination as in claim 4 wherein said cutter mounting plate includes a recessed portion that is contactable with a mating portion of said spring member, said recessed portion and said mating portion of said spring member cooperating to yieldably locate said operating lever relative to said cutter mounting plate and facilitate reinstallation of said operating lever and cutter mounting plate on said frame by positioning said first and second pin members within said first and second mentioned frame openings.
 6. The combination as in claim 1 wherein said frame has a movable can guide extending therefrom and means located on said cutter mounting plate for contacting said movable can guide and lifting same to a can receiving position with respect to said Can feed wheel.
 7. The combination as in claim 6 including means for resiliently biasing said movable can guide in a direction that is substantially opposite to the direction that said can guide is lifted.
 8. The combination as in claim 6 wherein said can guide lifting means includes a slot defined in said cutter mounting plate, said can guide extending through said cutter mounting plate slot when said cutter mounting plate is pivotally mounted on said frame, said slot permitting said cutter mounting plate to move a preselected distance without contacting said can guide, said cutter mounting plate operable to contact and move said movable can guide after said cutter mounting plate has been moved said preselected distance.
 9. The combination as in claim 1 wherein said frame has a movable can guide extending therefrom, means for permitting said movable can guide to move in a substantially vertical direction with respect to said frame, a fixed can guide extending from said cutter mounting plate, the axis of said fixed can guide being parallel to but below the axis of said first pin member which pivotally interconnects said cutter mounting plate with said frame, said cutter mounting plate being movable to a can receiving position by movement of said operating lever and movable in an opposite direction to effect the piercing of the end of a can to be opened, said movable can guide being moved by a can fulcruming on said can feed wheel as said hand lever is moved from said can receiving position to said can piercing position.
 10. The combination as in claim 1 wherein said frame includes a fulcrum boss extending therefrom, said fulcrum boss operable to be contacted by said hand lever, said hand lever being movable with respect to said fulcrum boss to pivotally move said cutter mounting plate in a direction to permit said second pin member to effect the energization of said motor through said motor control means without the presence of a can being engaged in said can opener. 